FUNCTIONAL AGEING: A Science-Technology-Society Approach to teach Ageing and Age-related Diseases

Purpose: Ageing is a complex biological process that involves numerous genes and pathways. Experimental studies have identified several of these genes and pathways that that can extend or shorten lifespan of an individual. Understanding these genes and pathways can help develop interventions that improve health and quality of life of older people. Nonetheless, as the global population continues to age, it is essential to comprehend impact of ageing processes on the society. Functional age is defined as a combination of chronological, biological, and psychological ages. An educational course called Functional Ageing was created for life science students at the National University of Singapore (NUS) during the academic year 2016-2017. The module adopted an interdisciplinary approach based on science-technology-society (STS) methodology and aimed to equip students with the analytical tools needed to assess the ageing process at both the molecular and physiological/functional levels. Ultimately, the module aimed to promote the understanding of ageing processes, particularly functional ageing in a population and its societal impacts. Methods: This Functional Ageing course spanned over 13 weeks, consisting of weekly four-hour sessions that aimed to integrate both biology of ageing and societal perceptions of an ageing population. The first half of the semester covered the molecular processes that govern ageing, while the second half focussed on societal perception, burden of disease, healthy ageing interventions and creating an ageless society. Experimental and epidemiological studies were used to explain the ageing process. Expert guest lecturers were invited throughout the module to share their experiences on the demanding research areas of ageing today, as well as clinical aspects of age-related diseases. In addition, a field visit to a geriatric ward at the mental health organisation was arranged to showcase the approaches a country to dealing with the rising demands of ageing, and to provide experiential learning that can help inculcate a clearer public perception of ageing. Results: This 13-week module helped to improve the perception of students about functional ageing in society. After the module, a reflection analysis was conducted to evaluate the perceptions of students on ageing society. Overall findings garnered have demonstrated that while students generally have a brief understanding of the biological processes of ageing, their perception on how ageing is being manifested in a public health and societal setting is in paucity. However, the routine university-directed feedback survey indicated that the module had a positive impact on appreciation and comprehension of students on the interplay between biological and sociological aspects of ageing, thus achieving the learning objectives of the module. Conclusion: The aim of the Functional ageing module was to integrate the biology and sociology of ageing to provide a better interdisciplinary understanding of ageing in society. After completing the module, students demonstrated a change in their mindset and attitude towards how their scientific understanding of ageing can be coupled to their public perception of ageing. As ageing populations become more prevalent in many societies, it is crucial that we prepare for an ageing population and develop a positive perception of ageing. Through educational efforts like this course/module, students will exhibit greater awareness of ageing issues, leading to more informed and balanced perceptions.